Scientists from the University of Bristol (BiO) have successfully tested hormone replacement therapy for patients with adrenal disease. The study was published on: Journal of Internal Medicine.
Low levels of the hormone cortisol often accompany rare conditions such as Addison’s disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This substance regulates many vital processes, from memory formation to immune function and blood pressure control. Deficiency results in nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, dangerously low blood pressure, and depression. This condition requires lifelong daily hormone replacement therapy with hydrocortisone. Although this improves cortisol levels, patients’ quality of life is still poor. One reason for its ineffectiveness is that cortisol levels normally fluctuate throughout the day, and oral administration cannot mimic this change.
In the new study, 20 participants with adrenal disease, ranging in age from 18 to 64, received regular doses of hydrocortisone replacement therapy administered orally or through a pump that mimics natural fluctuations in cortisol levels.
Pump therapy reduced fatigue by approximately 10%, improved mood, and increased patients’ energy levels by 30%. Improvements were especially noticeable in the morning hours, when most patients typically feel particularly tired at this time. MRI scans confirmed changes in the way the brain processes emotional information.
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